Capitol News

The new I-96/Fruit Ridge Avenue interchange and pedestrian paths in Walker, Michigan, are now open to traffic. The project was a joint effort between the City of Walker and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), with approximately $30 million invested to rebuild and widen Fruit Ridge Avenue from 3 Mile Road to Northridge Drive. The original bridge and interchange, which dated back to 1961, were replaced as part of this initiative.

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place last Friday at the Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge to mark the near completion of the project. The Kenowa Hills High School Marching Band participated in the event, celebrating both the infrastructure improvements and the restoration of regular bus routes.

The Michigan Legislature supported this infrastructure upgrade by approving a $25 million grant under Public Act 1 of 2023. According to State Senator Mark Huizenga, "Within a 2-mile radius of this bridge there are over 15,000 jobs. New companies come here to work and they rely on infrastructure for better productivity and better quality of life."

City of Walker Mayor Gary Carey commented on the collaborative nature of the project: "Projects like this don't happen overnight. They take vision, persistence, partnership and a shared belief that our infrastructure is worth investing in."

The rebuilt interchange includes widened lanes—from two to five—and features new nonmotorized paths along Fruit Ridge Avenue and 3 Mile Road. These improvements also provide trail connections on both sides of I-96.

State Representative Carol Glanville emphasized how important these upgrades are for regional connectivity: "This was the missing piece. This is a key intersection to unlock hundreds of miles of trails," she said. "Pedestrians now have safer access to the White Pine Trail, the Pioneer Trail and the Standale Trail." Rep. Glanville also highlighted bipartisan cooperation as essential for achieving these goals.

The new infrastructure fills a gap in west Michigan's trail system by connecting Grand Rapids with Cadillac to the north—about 100 miles—and extending access westward roughly 40 miles toward Lake Michigan.